When You're On the Same Page

We celebrated Christmas with my family over the weekend. It was a relaxing and fun time. The cousins could not have been more thrilled, as they rarely all get together. It was enjoyable to see them interacting and playing. Vivian was particularly thrilled to have a real baby around to play with. We were missing one family member, but that is another story I suppose.

This morning I was thinking about our weekend. It really was a simple family get together. Our meals were simple. Not all of them were exactly frugal, thanks mom for the seafood stew, but most meals included items that were prepared ahead or easily put together. Everything was delicious, and no one was stuck in the kitchen with lots of cooking or cleaning up.

We opened presents on Sunday. We all kept it simple and frugal this year. Less gifts were purchased. Many gifts were homemade, second hand, or purchased on clearance,but this did not dampen the joy of opening presents one bit. Everyone had a gift that they were extremely pleased with. Several of the kids even did the happy dance around the living room after discovering their gift. My sister-in-law and I compared our thrift store and clearance bargains afterward, "She loves that and you only paid a dollar," and "Can you believe I found that at the thrift store for only three dollars?"

Sometimes you feel like a fish swimming upstream when choosing a simpler and more frugal lifestyle. It is nice to see some reward from your choices. It certainly helps when your family is on the same page with you.

Our Christmas Letter

It is probably a little late to do a Christmas letter this year, but I was so pleased with how ours turned out that I wanted to share it. If you like it, keep it in mind for next year.

It has been awhile since we have done a Christmas letter. It has been hard keeping up with our family and friends who are out of state. A Christmas letter is a nice way to catch up. A bonus is that letters cost less to make than cards.

A big thanks to Alison whose post Christmas Cards with a Twist, was the inspiration for this year's letter. We included this picture of the kids with the letter.

Merry Christmas from the

Additions have been made. Decks have been added to the houses, a shed for the goats, a few rabbit hutches, a weekend camper, and a mobile home that may become a guest house.
Petting zoo, that is what we call it around here with rabbits, ducks, chickens, goats, pigs, sheep, cats and a dog.
Photography prize was won by Kellen, best in show at the county fair.
Lydia learned to read and tie hers shoes. She also has her first loose tooth.
Enjoying our new family traditions, we went to the Vandalia Festival, the pumpkin house, and cut our own Christmas tree.
Talking and walking were learned by Vivian, but she just won’t give up that knuckle, as you can see in the photo.
Outer Banks was our spring break destination. We went with family and friends.
Nolan keeps us all laughing. He is full of energy and orneriness.
Spring found us planting our first garden here. Not entirely a success, but we have enough green beans canned for winter!

2007 had been quite the busy year here. Tim and Stephanie both update regularly on their blogs. Keep up with us there. timappleton.blogspot.com and stkappleto.blogspot.com

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,
Tim, Stephanie, Kellen, Lydia, Nolan, and Vivian


Posting here until after the first of the year is likely to be sporadic. Let me take this opportunity now to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Using Scraps of Wrapping Paper

Wrapping paper just seems impractical to me. It always has, but it is just one of those things you are expected to use, so I have. I am considering some other options for the future, but for now I have quite the stockpile of wrapping paper to use that has been purchased on clearance in previous seasons.

In addition to wrapping paper itself seeming wasteful, another thing that has always bothered me is the scraps of paper left after wrapping a present. The paper never fits the box right. You always end up trimming off several inch strips. What do you do with them?

Perhaps this is an example of frugality gone over board, but I just can't stand to throw them away. When I was a kid we always used those scraps to make name tags. We'd cut the scraps into squares, fold them in half, write the two and from on the bottom half, and tape it onto the gift. It does work well, but it doesn't use up all the scraps.

I'm not even using the scraps for name tags this year because for some reason I bought a bunch of name tags last year after Christmas. When those run out, I'd like to try a prettier way to make name tags. Cut out the pictures of last years Christmas cards. Then take the picture, punch a small hole in the corner, write your to and from on the backside, and attach the whole thing with ribbon.

In years past, I've saved the larger scraps of paper for some future unknown small gift that needs wrapped. That hasn't worked out so well. How many gifts do you really have that require a small amount of paper? By the time I actually needed one, the paper was in shambles.

This year I've found a solution to my wrapping scraps issue: use it as packing material for packages I'm sending. I sent all my scraps through the shredder. You wouldn't have to shred them though. You could just wad them up to provide some cushion when packaging.

Then I lined the bottom of the box with the paper.


And put in the goodies. The shredded paper made a colorful and protective packing base. To my astonishment, I did not have enough paper scraps to finish the job, and had to use some other materials, but I was so happy to finally find a use for those scraps!

Do you have any other ideas for how to use up those scraps of wrapping paper?

A Christmas Craft for Preschoolers

Yesterday my younger kids made the cutest little ornaments. They made them at our homeschool co-op, so I can not take credit for the idea. Thanks to their art teacher! They are simple, and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Fold a piece of paper in half. They used construction paper, but I imagine card stock would work nicely too.

2. Trace a circle about half an inch from the fold.

3. Cut in a small tab to the circle by making two cuts. Then cut around the circle. When it is cut out you should have something that kind of looks like a pair of glasses.



4. Let the child decorate one side of the paper with sequins, glitter, or whatever you desire.

5. Take a photo of the child, and cut the picture just slightly smaller than the paper circle.

6. Fold the paper so the two circles are on top of each other.



7. Glue your child's picture on the inside of the ornament.


8. Add a small piece of ribbon, tied to make the ornament hanger. You may want to add the year somewhere on the ornament for future reference.

9, Hang on the tree. Enjoy!

We will be keeping these for ourselves, but they would make a wonderful child made gift for grandparents. For more great holiday ideas see Scribbit's Holiday Bazaar.

WOW Photo Chirstmas Cards

The Christmas preparations are coming along. I've been doing a bit of baking here and there and have quite a collection in the freezer waiting to be made into goody trays and gift baskets. Over the weekend we made some candy, and started on the Christmas cards. This year we are doing a family letter, and enclosing a photo.

For most occasions I am not a big fan of greeting cards, attribute it to my over practical nature, but I just find them too expensive with out much benefit. Except at Christmas time! I love Christmas cards. I love the sentiments in them, and the beautiful pictures. Christmas cards really do add to the season, and they become part of the decorations in my home.

I enjoy all Christmas cards, but especially those that have a personal touch such as family letters, and photo cards. I've never received a card quite like these talked about in a New Photo Card Designs. These are some photo cards with a lot of WOW!

There are many choices of card designs, and the card can be oriented vertically or horizontally. You upload your picture, or even your child's artwork, and personalize your greeting and verse. After your approve your proof, they send you the personalized cards. The whole process is very easy.

These may not be the most frugal option for a personalized card, but they sure are beautiful. For those of us who are not exactly crafty or artistic, or who don't have the time to create something, paying for a little WOW now and then can be worth it. These Christmas cards are full of WOW!

Oh Christmas Lights!

A few years back we decided it was time to replace our mini white lights. There were shorts in the cords, and we were ready for a tree with a little color. The day after Christmas we went shopping, specifically for new Christmas lights. We came home with three strands of blue lights that had been greatly reduced.

The bulbs are large, and they give off a muted blue color that make the whole tree glow in blue. I think it is a nice affect. We've been enjoying them ever since, but now we are running into problems.

The bulbs get hot. I'm concerned not only about the heat next to the real tree, but also next to the paper once there are presents under the tree. The bulbs are rather fragile, making them hard to work with, and hard to store. We broke one last year, and two this year. And we have not been able to find replacement bulbs. The socket is not the same size as other Christmas lights either, so there isn't even the option of replacing the lights with a different shaped bulb. I'm wondering, is it time to get new lights again?

I've been doing a little reading on LED Xmas lights, and I think I am sold on them. They are not easily broken, do not get hot, are energy efficient, and last a long time. I have found that there is a difference between the different types. Some are one piece construction, and others have two pieces. The one piece construction is weather proof and more durable than those that have two pieces. One piece construction lights are rated for 50,000 hours, and two piece for 25,000.

LED lights do cost more initially, but if I don't have to replace them every few years it would be worth it in the end. I think I will be shopping for these soon. Now the question is what shape and color do I want? There are so many choices!

Do any of you have LED Christmas lights? I'd love your feedback!

Easy Chocolate Christmas Candy TT #17

Earlier this week we went to a candy making party hosted by one of the leaders of our homeschool co-op. She invited all the families from our co-op to come and make Christmas candy. I've made Christmas candy before, but it is fun to do projects like this with other people. Apparently lots of others thought the same thing.

There were at least twenty people there, and the kids far out numbered the adults. They also did most of the candy making. Our hostess had a wide variety of supplies, and candies for use to make. Some I had made before, and some were new to me. She also gave us a wonderful packet full of candy making ideas and recipes. As you might imagine the day was a bit chaotic, but we all had fun, learned a few things, and got to take home a box of assorted candy.

Chocolate dipped candy is easy, delicious, and makes a great gift. Here are some ideas for things that you can make. If you have not made dipped candy before, you can find the how to and tips after the list.

Thirteen Things that are Good Dipped in Chocolate

1. Pretzels
These are my favorites. The twists are the best for eating, but the rods can be decorated. Add sprinkles, colored chocolate or other candy to make lovely chocolate covered pretzel rods.

2. Heath bar centers
You can find these where you buy your candy making supplies.

3. Rice krispies
Mix them into a small bowl of melted chocolate, and spoon out in a cluster.

4. Peanuts
Same procedure as the rice krispies.

5. Coffee beans
You'll want to keep these as individual pieces of candy, not a cluster. If you want the coffee flavor with out the crunch, mix 1 part instant coffee to 6 parts melted chocolate. Mold (use a candy mold or small paper cups) in bite sized pieces.

6. Animal crackers

7. Marshmallows
I like to make these in a variety of colors and include them in gift baskets with homemade cocoa mix.

8. Ritz crackers
Good alone, or spread peanut butter on one cracker, top with another cracker then dip.

9. Peanut butter balls.
1 -18 ounce jar of peanut butter mixed with 1 pound of powdered sugar. Roll into small balls.

10. Raisins

11. Coconut balls
Mix 1 lb macaroon coconut and 1 1/2 C hot light corn syrup. Let sit overnight. Shape into small balls.

12. Pecans

13. Anything that sounds good to you dipped in chocolate. Use your imagination and come up with something new.

Making basic chocolate covered candy really is very easy, and does not require any special equipment. You do need the right chocolate though. You need coating chocolate. Simply melting chocolate chips will not work. You can buy the coating chocolate at many craft stores, bulk foods stores, or even party stores. It is not often that I recommend buying brand names, but for chocolate I have to say I prefer Merckens. It is less waxy tasting than other brands I've tried.

You can buy the chocolate in blocks, but the easiest way to work with it is in wafers. You can buy all kinds of chocolate, lite, dark, white and a variety of colors. Personally I use mostly the brown varieties of chocolate, and some white. The colors are fun, but I don't think they taste as good. I use them in small quantities for decorating or to add color (like with marshmallows.)

Two big things to remember when working with chocolate:
1. It burns easily.
2. Do not get water in with the chocolate.

Since chocolate burns easily, you must melt it slowly. Using a double boiler is the best way to melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate slowly a little at a time in the top of the double boiler. The water in the bottom of the boiler should only be kept at a simmer. If you don't have a double boiler, a crockpot on low will work. Be sure to keep a close eye on it, and stir often. You can also melt in a microwave, but be careful not to burn the chocolate. The microwave is best for small batches. Heat for no more than 30 seconds at a time. Stir between heatings.

Now, that the chocolate is melted, comes the fun part; the dipping. The easiest candy simply involves dipping whatever you want to be covered in chocolate into the chocolate, tapping off the excess, placing the candy on a sheet of wax paper, and letting it cool. Forks work well for the dipping. At the party I learned that a plastic fork with the center prongs removed work wonderfully for items like pretzels. If you want to speed the cooling process you can place the candy in the refrigerator or freezer.

That is all there is to it. Melt. Dip. Cool. Enjoy!

My Early Christmas Present

Warning the following post contains mommy bragging.

I sometimes wonder if my children will learn to be frugal, and appreciate things like recycling and repurposing. If the current activities are any indication, our nine year old certainly is learning from our example.

For the past few days Kellen has been sneaking off to the storage shed when he gets a spare moment. I was told he was working on a present, and given strict instructions to not enter the shed.

Yesterday, he emerged from the shed with a gift wrapped circular object. When I inquired if it was a wreath he got a deflated look on his face. Instantly, I wished I would have kept my mouth shut. I made a joke of it, and said "What did you think I'd think it was a mini hula hoop?" That made him smile, and he responded, "Do you know how long it took me to wrap that?"

Then he told me that I needed to open it before Christmas. This is what I found when I removed the paper.

He made me a fresh pine wreath using only materials we had on hand. For the pine he used the branches we trimmed from our Christmas tree. To keep it all together he used twine from our hay bales. For the bow he found some ribbon in the Christmas decorations.

Now I know it is not the most perfect wreath ever, but he is nine, and he made it by himself. In my book that makes it better than any wreath I could buy or make myself. We did adjust the bow a bit, and added some florist wire in one spot that the twine was not holding well. It is now proudly displayed on my door while my fake store bought one remains in its storage box.

An Easy and Frugal Grandparent Gift

Most grandparents love to receive gifts that showcase their grandchildren either in pictures or crafts. This can be a challenge for those of us who aren't very artistic or crafty. Every year I try to do something, some years have been better than others.

This years' gift is truly "hand" made. We made Christmas tree wall hangings from the kids' hand prints. We made three, one for ourselves and one for each set of grandparents. I think this years' gift is my favorite so far for several reasons:

• It is easy.
• It is inexpensive.
• It works well if you have multiple children.

What you will need:
A canvas like fabric. - I found a remnant of duck cloth. I split the remnant in 1/3's. Each piece of fabric was about 18" by 26".
Acrylic Paint. - Green, Brown, Gold, and any others if you'd like to decorate the tree with paint.
Dowel Rods - one per wall hanging.
Fray Check
Tacky Glue
Ribbon
Glitter or other items to decorate the tree with .

First I ironed the fabric. Then measured out the pieces. I sent Kellen to find a yard stick I could use as a straight edge because Lord knows I can't cut a straight line to save my life. He returned with Mamaw and her circular cutter, and cutting pad. She ended up cutting the pieces for me. Nothing like making your own Christmas gift!



Next apply Fray Check around all the edges. Allow to dry for ten minutes.

Now the fun (?) part. Pour some green paint in a shallow container you don't mind getting ruined. I used the lid of a whipped cream container. A pie tin would work well too. If you have multiple children start with the biggest one first. Have them dip their palms into the paint. Be sure the underside of their hands are well covered.


Imagine where the center line of the canvas is, then place the child's hands on the canvas so the wrist is about at the center of the canvas. I doubled up on their hands; two hands on either side of center for a total of four hands per child. You could adjust this for a different size wall hanging or the number of children you have. Press down slightly on the top of their hands and fingers to get the best print. Repeat as needed with the same child or the next one. When you get to the top of the tree have the hands point slightly up. Paint a brown trunk at the bottom of the tree.



While the paint is still wet you can add small decorations like glitter. You can also add paint or other decorations with glue after the tree dries.

Allow the tree to dry thoroughly, then use the littlest hand prints in gold for the "star" on the top of the tree. I also added "2007" on the top because that is what stamps I had that worked. The ruler helped me keep the spacing right and the numbers reasonably straight. If you are more talented than I, you could write "Merry Christmas" or other fitting title. I would include the year somewhere though so you'll remember.

To make the hanger part of the wall hanging, create a seam by folding about two inches of the fabric back, and glue using tacky glue. Allow to dry.

Take the dowel rod and cut so that it is a few inches longer than your fabric. Drill small holes on both ends of the rod, about half way between the end of the rod and where the fabric will be. The holes need to be large enough to put your ribbon through, but small enough that a knot of the ribbon will not pull through. I had a bit of trouble getting my ribbon through, but was able to thread it through with a needle.

When the seam is dry put the dowel in. Put the ribbon through from the top of each hole, and tie a knot in the ribbon under the rod. Then trim off an excess ribbon below the knot. All done!


The cost:
Fabric: 1.36
Fray Check: 3.59
Ribbon: .50
Paint: 2.19
Dowel Rods: 1.50
Tacky Glue: 1.19
Total: $10.33 or $3.44 each. Note: Cost is for new supplies, not for what was actually used.
Time: The better part of the afternoon, but of course that was with many interruptions and waiting for it to dry. You know, how any mom works on a project.

Finally a project within my crafting abilities, and my budget! I decided to give the gifts early so they could be used as Christmas decorations this year. (Um...and so I could post them on my blog before Christmas!) The first one was a hit, and I'm sure the second will be also!


Winter Bazaar
Works for Me Wednesday

They're Out to Sabotage My Plan

Did you receive a "Wish Guide" from a certain big store recently? I guess it is smart marketing, but it feels like a plan to sabotage our simple and frugal plan for Christmas. This guide is directly aimed at the kids. It is 46 pages jammed pack with toys and electronics to make your kids drool and beg.

Included is a wish list for your child to put their top 12 toys. They can even mark it by priority: want it, need it, must have, or pleeeease!!! Sorry I don't see a single thing in this ad that would qualify as a need. And how about this to check off on the list, "I was SO good this year! Waaay better than my brother (or sister.)" To be sure that you know exactly what your kid wants stickers are included for your child to put directly on their favorites.

Don't worry you don't have to call your family with the list, or make copies. You can log on the store web site, and email your wish list to the whole family! Oh how convenient! (thick with sarcasm!)

Normally an ad like this would hit the recycle bin before the kids ever had a chance to see it. This one came in a big stack of mail that I had not sorted through yet, and little hands grabbed it before I had the chance to even see what it was. Then it was "Mommy look at this. Mommy look at that. Ohhhhhh I want that!"

The marketing has succeeded in half of its goal; it has created desire in my children. I am here to tell you now, that they will not succeed in sabotaging my plan! I refuse to buy into the hype that spending 100's of dollars per child, to give them all the toys marketing has convinced them they need, will make them happy or make them love me more. I know that when it comes to toys, less is more. Nice try big box store, but I am sticking to my plan.

Shhh Don't Tell Tim. . .

Tim's hiking boots are in the trash. These are the boots we bought for our last backpacking trip. Since that trip, they have served him well. He has used them for hiking, caving, rappelling, and as Hunting Boots. They've taken a beating, and finally have given out.

Since he threw the boots out he has been wearing what we call "Amish boots." I guess if you aren't from Amish country you would have no idea what that means. They are just basic, no frills leather work boots. They aren't exactly the most comfortable things, but the biggest problem is they have little traction. When you are climbing up and down the hollows around here you need boots with some traction, especially if you are carrying a deer.

These boots aren't cheap, but I am thinking about getting them for him for Christmas. Good boots are worth it. I know he would appreciate getting them as a gift. Of course, maybe I should give them to him early. Hunting season is almost over by Christmas!

Making Christmas Green . . .

for your wallet and for the environment-

I've talked quite a bit about helping to keep your wallet green during the holidays, but what about the environment? Environmentally friendly and frugal often walk hand in hand; Christmas is no exception.

Here are some more ideas that are good for the budget and the environment:

1. Using LED Christmas lights
These lights use 90% less energy, are cool to the touch, and the bulb lasts for 50,000 hours. They are more expensive initially, but they will save you money in the long run.

2. Recycle paper for wrapping.
Using newspaper, especially the comics can be a fun way to wrap presents. Another idea is to recycle brown paper bags for wrapping. Let the kids decorate the paper with Christmas pictures or designs, then wrap the gift. This is a big hit with grandparents.

3. Decorate with biodegradable materials.
Popcorn and cranberries really do make pretty garland for the tree. It is a fun project to do as a family, and the birds will enjoy the leftovers (taken off the string) after the holiday. Make paper chains with the scraps of construction paper left from the kid's other projects.

4. Use recycled materials for packing.
If you need packing material in your box, use newspapers, shredded paper, or plastic shopping bags.

5. Avoid the disposable.
Use real plates and silverware for your gatherings. Washing the dishes really doesn't take that long, especially if you have a dishwasher. It is worth the savings.

Make this Christmas a green one; for your wallet and the environment. Feel free to share your favorite green and frugal ideas.

For more ideas at Stop the Ride, check the Christmas label.

Frugal Fridays

Don't Get Buried Under Toys this Christmas - TT#13

As we try to live a frugal and simple life style, we are trying to instill the same values in our children. Part of that life style involves not accumulating mountains of stuff. When you have children, mountains of toys; gund, Tonka, Barbie, and more, can be expected this holiday season. How do we teach our children to appreciate the simple things, and not focus on the material things when we are constantly bombarding them with stuff?

I don't want to be a scrooge. I want my children to enjoy opening their presents, and appreciate the presents they get. Frankly, when it come to Christmas presents, I think less is more. How many times have you watched children atack their mountain of gifts. They rip open one present, throw it aside, and move onto the next. I know mine do it. Then they don't even remember what they got or who gave it to them. The opening doesn't seem to be about what is actually in the boxes, but about how many boxes they can get through. A few well thought out gifts let them enjoy the process and appreciate the items in the boxes.

Most of our kids' already have more toys than they really need. It is fun to get a few new ones, but when you are buying presents, and other family and friends are also buying presents, well it just gets to be too much. Soon we are all buried in toys.

Here are some ideas to help you keep it simpler this year, and limit the amount of toys.

1. Declutter the toys now.
Make room for what is coming.

2. Start by limiting yourself.
Set yourself a limit, either in dollars or quantity of toys, you will buy for your children. To see the system we use please refer to Four for Christmas.

3. Talk to others about your wishes to keep things simple.
This can be really sticky. Approach with caution and with out self righteousness in your voice. Some people may be relieved that you don't expect them to buy your children a load of presents. Others though may not be so receptive. Only you can decide how much you want to push the issue, and if it is worth hard feelings with your family or friends.

4. If they still want to buy, try to redirect the purchases to more useful things.
Even if people don't agree with your desire to limit the number of gifts, they do want to give gifts that are appreciated.

Here are some ideas to suggest to your friends and family as gifts, that will help limit the clutter and piles of toys.

5. Things they need.
Clothing, shoes, and the like.

6. Decorations for their rooms.
The kids appreciate making their room fun. We've asked for curtains, sheets, and bath room accessories.

7. Lessons
Swimming, dance, soccer, music, or whatever your kid is into. Maybe as a present for you the giver could provide the transportation too! :)

8. One large item.
Instead of buying lots of little things give the children one that will wow them. If you have multiple children, you can ask for something they all will use, like a swing set.

9. Time with a special person.
A gift certificate for one on one time, or even lunch out and a movie.

10. Money for the college funds.

11. Donations to a good cause.
If your children are involved with you in a charity, they may appreciate having a donation made in their name, or maybe sponsoring a child through an organization like Compassion.

12. Art supplies.
These are useful, and they will get used up instead of cluttering the house for years to come.

13. Outside toys.
At least you can get the kids out of the house for awhile and store the toys in the garage!


If you have little children implementing this type of plan is easy. If your children are older and used to a mountain of gifts under the tree, it isn't going to be so easy. I want my children to enjoy their Christmas, but I don't want them to think that it is about how many toys you get. When the amount of gifts is overwhelming, none of the gifts are appreciated as much as they should be. Simple is just better.

Making Progress on that Christmas List

I made my list of people we give Christmas presents to. I have steadily been making progress on the list too, but there are some glaring white spots on that piece of paper. What to buy for the guys?

Every year it happens, nothing written down beside my dad's name. I have no ideas for gifts for him or any Tim's dad for that matter, or really any of the adult men in the family. I guess guys always like things for their garage. These personalized signs are kind of fun!

This year I resolve to complete those hard to shop for names on my list before December. I do not want to wait until the last minute for them. I need ideas, and I need to mark them off the list. What are your ideas for the men in your family?

Amish Date Pudding

If you visit Amish country, and order date pudding you will find it served a variety of ways. None I've ever ordered from a restaurant has come close to the way my grandmother made it. She was raised Amish, but left the community as an adult. Her Upside Down Date Pudding has become a family holiday tradition.

Grandma Erma's Upside Down Date Pudding

To 1 C chopped dates add 1 C boiling water and set aside.

1 1/2 C flour
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 tsp salt
2 TB butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 C chopped nuts
1/2 white sugar

Blend sugars, egg and butter. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in nuts and dates. Pour into 11x7 baking dish. Top with this sauce:

1 1/2 C brown sugar
1 TB butter
1 1/2 C boiling water

Pour over top of flour mixture. Bake at 375 F for 40 minutes. When cool cut into squares. In a large bowl, layer cake with whipped cream (homemade is best) and bananas. Use a clear bowl to do your layering, if you can. It makes it pretty.

Many are put off by the name of this desert, but find it fabulous once they try it. It is a beautiful and delicious desert, that is also relatively frugal. The dates are really the only ingredient that I don't normally have around. I hope you try it. Let me know what you think if you do!

Be sure to stop by Overwhelmed with Joy for more great Holiday Cooking Ideas!

Black Friday Online?

The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. It has earned the name Black Friday because it is the day retailers get out of the red and back into the black financially for the year. Stores offer fantastic sales on items that are found on Christmas wish lists. Shoppers, still groggy from Thanksgiving feasts, get up at the crack of dawn to get their hands on those deals.

I'm a new convert to Black Friday, only shopping that day for the past few years. Searching for the deals is a thrill. To get the most out of it you must have a plan of attack. I sit down with my Christmas list and the ads to try and match the best deals with the things I need. You simply must have a list and stick with it when shopping on Black Friday. Otherwise it is very easy to get carried away and come home with much more than you planned on buying.

There are a few problems with Black Friday, besides getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the store, and fight the crowds. One is that the ads normally don't come out until the week of or even the day of Thanksgiving. Doesn't give you much time to plan. Also, you can not get to all the stores for the door opening specials, and there may be stores offering great deals on things you need, but the store is not in your area. I came across a site today that may help with those problems.

By signing up with your email address at Black-Friday.net, you can get early notification, by email of the 2007 Thanksgiving specials. There are already listings there for some of my favorite stores, including Target. The site also will provide links to do your Black Friday shopping online. Saves you the hassle of fighting the crowds at 5 AM. I signed up today.

Getting the ads early will be a big help. I probably will still go out on Black Friday. I think it is fun, and besides, I like leaving Tim with all the kids every now and then! But this year I may do a little online shopping before going out to fight the crowds.

What! Christmas Already?

Christmas already? There were Christmas trees and decorations in the lobby of a local department store I was in last week. We all complain about retailers rushing the season. Christmas trees and back to school sales, at the same time, is certainly rushing the season a bit, isn't it? Then I started seeing Christmas posts popping up all around the blog-o-sphere too. Have we all gone mad, and started buying into the Christmas season rush?

No, I don't think so. Though I really don't think we need Christmas decorations out in the stores already, thinking and planning for the holidays now is smart. If you are planning to give handmade items, you probably have already started or need to start soon in order to finish before the holidays. I had planned to make homemade gifts, but the weather did not cooperate with part of my plan, no blackberries = no jam for gifts this year. So now I need to rethink my plans.

If you purchase your gifts, it also is smart to start now. Starting now helps you to spread out the cost and avoid using credit for your purchases. There also are many clearance sales between now and the full blown holiday shopping season. Taking advantage of these sales can help you stay in or even under your Christmas budget.

One word though about shopping early. If you are going to start your shopping early be careful. It is easy to lose track of whom you've bought for, and to just keep buying once you've started. To prevent this make a list with who you need to shop for, and track when you have purchased something. Keep the list with you in your wallet. That way if you see an item while shopping you can check your list to see if you've already bought for that person or not.

With that said here is my action plan:

1. Write My List
Make a list of everyone that we will be giving a gift to. Jot down some fit ideas for each person. I will refer to Four For Christmas when I make this list. If you haven't seen this before it is a rule of thumb we use when shopping for our kids.

2. Check in my Gift Drawer
I pick up exceptional bargains throughout the year to use as gifts. These go into a drawer in my file cabinet. Before buying gifts, I always check the drawer to see if I already have an appropriate item to give.

3. Mark Off on the List.
If there are items in the gift drawer I can use, I mark it on the list so I do not buy anything else for that need.

4. Put the List in my Wallet

5. Start the Handmade Projects

6. Look for Sales on Items I Will Purchase.

7. Clean Out the Kid's Rooms
Didn't expect that one? We keep the gifts to a moderate amount, but there are still other friends and family that give gifts to our children. The rooms are already over flowing, now is the time to make some space. Throw out the broken, sell or donate the rest.

Yes, it is only mid September. No, I don't want to rush the season, but I do want to plan for it carefully. I don't want to the pressure, stress and often overspending that come when you don't start your shopping until December. Plan and start now, and maybe the real Christmas season will be more enjoyable!


Frugal Fridays

I am having a contest. The prize is a cookbook!

Saving Gift Cards

I know some people do not like getting or giving gift cards as gifts, but I love it. It is nice to have a present or two to open and enjoy, but the practical person in me so appreciates gifts cards. I love to use them for things we need. They are also great for small indulgences that I might not buy otherwise.

We often receive gift cards for holidays and birthdays. It is tempting to go out and splurge with a big shopping trip. We have done that in the past, using the gift cards to hit after Christmas sales. We got a lot of mileage out of gift cards that way. But saving them has its advantages too.

This year the kids all got separate gift cards at Christmas time. I decided to hold onto them. They didn't need anything. With all the excess already surrounding Christmas, I couldn't see any reason to add to the piles.

In February, I did allow them to browse the clearance aisle and pick out something small and we picked up a few things they needed. Then we all went through the self check out, so each child could use their card for their transaction. Just picture me doing this with four kids. Yes, it was as crazy as you imagine.

After that trip, I stuck the cards away with some that were given to Tim and I for future use. Yesterday, the kids needed some shoes and a couple of other things. I also wanted to get window fans for all the bedrooms. It seemed like a perfect time to use up those gift cards.

After gathering the needed items, we headed to the checkout. I thought we'd be finishing up the cards, so I didn't keep the transactions separate like I had in the previous trip. The cashier rang up all the items. Told me the total, and I handed her a stack of cards saying, "Let's finish these cards up, and then tell me how much more I owe."

Imagine my surprise when she handed one back saying, "There is six dollars left on this one." Then she handed me two other back that she didn't even need to use. Obviously, I had lost track of how much was left on those gift cards.We had a free shopping trip! It felt like Christmas again.
Saving your gift cards for things you need later is a great way to boost a tight budget. It was fun to have a free shopping trip in May from our Christmas gift cards! The gift that keeps giving!

One caution though: Some gift cards do lose their value after a specified time period. You don't want to hold onto the card for too long.

Frugal Fridays


frugal, chirstmas, gifts

Recyling Christmas Cards - ideas from someone who is not crafty

What do you do with all the Christmas cards you receive? Ours have been hanging in the kitchen, but now it is time to take them down. I hate to throw them away. Friends and family have spent their money (not to mention time) on these. They are beautiful and certainly worthy of reuse.

I am far from a craft queen. Most of my crafts have either been done with the kids or at social events, such as the ladies craft night our church used to have. Even so, I will share what this noncrafty person can do with Christmas cards.

First, I remove any pictures. This year I am hanging them on the side of my fridge in a collage. This will help me think of and pray for our friends and family through the year. It will also be nice to compare with next year's photos when they come. Then all the cards get put in a drawer for future use.

Kid's crafts
The kids usually end up using most of the cards for their creative efforts. They cut out the pictures and sometimes the words to create new cards or pictures. They have a lot of fun doing this. If you make your own cards, I would think you could do the same for your adult creations.

Name tags
Another thing we have done is create name tags from the cards. Cut out the picture on the card that you want to use. Write your "to" and "from" on the back. Punch a hole in the top of the picture and attach the name tag with ribbon.


Ball ornament
I am not sure if this ornament has a name. The picture is of one that I made at a ladies craft night. It is a little time consuming, but pretty easy. This one is made from colored card stock, but I remember my grandmother making these out of Christmas cards.

Cut 20 circles of the same size. Draw a triangle on the circle whose corners are on the edge of the circle. Use a pattern cut out of cardboard to keep the circles and triangles the same size. Fold on the triangle lines. (Fold so that when the paper is lying on the table the folds stand up and you can't see the pencil marks.) Then glue the folded edges together. Punch a hole in one of the edges and hang with ribbon.


Need some more ideas?

Michelle at Scribbit posted a neat craft for making tiny boxes from cards. Now, she is a crafting queen.

More ideas can be found at About:Family Crafts, or at Activity Village. Check out some of these ideas and reuse those Christmas cards.

Wants, Needs, & Practical Things

One of the most popular posts here has been my post about Four for Christmas. In this post, I talked about how we buy Christmas presents for our kids. What I didn't share was the gifts for Tim & I. We don't buy much for each other usually, though this year Tim went all out for me. We almost always ask for practical or needed things. We also may ask for some things we want, but don't want to spend the money on.

We were truly blessed by our families this Christmas. I was thinking yesterday, how the gifts we received fall into the same categories that we use in buying for the kids. We got things we needed, wanted and that were practical. We didn't receive any gifts to help us grow spiritually, but I guess those are the gifts from the Lord!

Wants
Tim totally spoiled me this year and got me gifts certificates for a massage, manicure and hair cut. I can't wait to use them all! I've never had a massage or manicure so those are real treats. I don't get my hair cut often and usually just at a cheapo place. I have a big change in mind. I'd feel more comfortable at a better salon. More on that later.

My parents also got us a what I would call a high priority want; a new digital camera. Our old one is really just a web cam. It didn't take great pictures. They got us this new camera. I haven't gotten much chance to play with it because it is hard to get away from Tim! He has taken some nice pictures with it though! (ours is red!)


Needs
We really needed new dishes. We had been using a set of plates we got as wedding presents twelve years ago. We were down to four dinner plates and six bowls. Doesn't work too well for a family of six! Tim's parents and grandmother really came through. They got us three sets of these dishes. We love them!


Practical
Money is always practical right? We got a unexpected cash gift from Tim's father. We aren't sure exactly what we will do with it. We may need to use it for bills since Tim recently took a pay cut. We talked too about using it toward a different family vehicle. For now we put it in savings.

I also got two cookbooks; Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today and Biggest Book of Bread Machine Recipes (Better Homes & Gardens (Paperback)) I can't wait to try some of those recipes.

We had a great Christmas, spending the weekend before with Tim's family and this past weekend with mine. The most important gift of course was the time spent with our families.